Families have begun to return to the besieged city of Fallujah in Syria, after ISIS militants fled the city in June when it was recaptured by government forces.
About 500 families have moved back in since the city was reopened last Saturday. Hundreds more are waiting at security checkpoints to be allowed through.
#mce_temp_url#The Preemptive Love Coalition (PLC), an aid group working in Iraq, is offering assistance to the thousands of people who will now have to rebuild their lives.
"When it comes to communities affected by conflict like Fallujah, Preemptive Love is committed to being the first in and the last to leave," founder Jeremy Courtney says.
"We've been showing up on the frontlines for Fallujah since the earliest days, and now that the town has been liberated from ISIS control, we are redoubling our commitment to help Fallujans return home and rebuild their lives.
"We had the joy of accompanying the first Fallujans to return home after two-years of tumultuous ISIS rule and government counterattacks. As they arrived home, we were able to hand them a kind of "welcome home" gift: a month's worth of food and other essentials like soap to address hygiene concerns.
"For most of us, 'homecoming' sounds like an unqualified good. But when you've been displaced for years, living wherever you find a place to lay your head, and your home has been attacked and looted by ISIS or anti-ISIS forces, returning home is complicated. Families need support."
PLC has documented the return of a number of families to Fallujah. Below are some of the first children to return:
Usama and Abdullah
"These two could put a smile on almost any face. But don't let those mischievous grins fool you!" PLC says. "Their dad proudly told us that Usama and Abdullah were great students before ISIS captured Fallujah. Now that ISIS has been driven out of the city, they look forward to going back to school."
Karar
Karar was the very first child from Fallujah to return to his home, and his family were the first to enjoy a meal together. PLC has been able to provide them with enough food to last more than a month.
Ali
The first thing Ali asked his mother when they reached their home was: "Where are my toys?". He asked if ISIS had stolen them.
Fallujah, which lies just over 40 miles from Baghdad, was the first Iraqi city to fall to ISIS control in June 2014, and was declared fully-liberated two years later after a US-led coalition together with Iraqi troops forced out the militants. During ISIS-occupation, hundreds of civilians starved to death and some were reported to have resorted to eating soup made from grass.
The city is still without running water and electricity, but Courtney is hopeful that this week marks the beginning of a bright future for Fallujah's residents.
"There may not be government services – there may not be a government – but at least they are home and, for now, they are safe, with plenty of food and supplies to help them begin the long process of beginning again," he says.
